Electric meter mounting



Aug. 9, 1938. H. A. BAKKE 2,126,602

ELECTRIC METER MOUNTING Filed oct. 25, 1935 35' Inventor:

HIS terr-ley.

Patented Aug. 9, 1938Y UNITED STATES ELECTRIC METER MOUNTING Hans A.Bakke, Swampscott, Mass., assigner to vGeneral Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application october 25, 1935, serial 110.46326 9Claims.

easily detachable electrical device which is au tomatically connectedinto an electrical circuit when it is mounted in place and whichautomatically closes contacts when the device is removed in order tomaintain the continuity of the electrical circuits.

It is another object of my invention to pro-l vide a disconnectingarrangement for a detachable electrical device, permitting the device tobe mounted in a mounting` socket in a way which will cause theelectrical circuit to remain open, and permitting the device to besealed to its socket.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

In carrying out my invention in its preferred form as appliedspecifically to universal detachable integrating meters, I provide anydesired type of integrating meter mounted on a base plate with contactprongs extending through the base plate and a socket or receptacle forreceiving such a meter with split terminal clips for receiving thecontact prongs. The invention is described as applied to an arrangementin which the terminal clips are slotted both lengthwise and crosswiseand both the contact prongs and the terminal clips are placed at thecorners of a square to permit inserting the meter into the socket in anyone of four different relative angular positions, as disclosed in mycopending application, Serial No. 20,592, led May 9, 1935, now PatentNo. 2,105,396, granted January 11 1938, and assigned to the sameassignee as the present application.

the terminal clips in the meter-receiving socket which connectcorresponding contact clips to' y maintain continuity `of service whenthe meter is removed but are depressed out of engagement when the meteris inserted in the socket to permit the electrical circuits to becompleted through the meter windings. An extra pair of diagonally placedinsulated clips is provided in the socket to hold the meter in a.diagonal position with its 50 prongs out of engagement with thecurrent-carrying terminal clips in order to disconnect the electricservice when desired while mounting the 'meter in a position in which itandA the live ter` minals of the meter socket can be' sealed.

The invention will bey understood more readily from the followingdetailed description lwhen v considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, and those features of the linvention which arebelieved to be novel and patentable will 60 be pointed out in the claimsappended hereto. In

Short-circuiting jumpers are provided between the drawing Fig. 1 is aview in perspective of a detachable meter mechanism and a mountingsocket adapted to receive the meter mechanism; Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryplan view of the socket; Fig. 3 is a vertical section cut by the plane3-3 shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the Vdiagonalposition vof the meter for disconnecting the circuit; Fig. 5 is a planview of a portion of the meter socket showing a modiiied form ofcircuit-closing jumpers; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the arrangementof Fig. 5; Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view partially in section of theportion of the apparatus cut by the plane 'I-l of Fig. 2 and showing oneof the clips for holding the meter in its disconnected position; andFig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the clip seen in Fig. 7.

While I have illustrated the manner of carrying out my invention indetachable watt-hour meters, it will be understood that my invention isnot limited thereto but is applicable to detachable electrical devicesof any kind. In the drawing, like reference characters are utilized todesignate like parts throughout. In Fig. 1 is shown a watt-hourmechanism II of any suitable type, preferably enclosed in a protectingcup-shaped glass case I2 and mounted upon a base plate I3 serving bothas a closure for the glass case I2 and as a mounting for the metermechanism and its contact terminals. The contact terminals of the metermechanism take the form of flat contact prongs I4 projecting through thebase plate I3. The prongs Il are provided with holes I5 at the ends tofacilitate holding the meter mechanism in -the disconnecting position.

There 'is provided also a receptacle or socket I6 for receiving themeter mechanism II and comprising a shallow cup-shaped base I'I havingmounted ther/ein split terminal clips I8, I 9, 20, and 2| adapted ltocooperate with the terminal prongs I4. 'Ihe socket I6 is provided with aflange 22 against which the rim 23 of the base plate I3 is adapted to tand which is adapted to engage a clamping ring. It will be understoodthat a suitable clamping ring and sealing ar` rangement, such as thatshown at I2 in Fig. 1 of the United States Patent to Bradshawet al., No.1,969,499, for example, may be employed for securing the meter mechanismII to the socket I6 and for flocking the meter mechanism II and theterminal chamber formed by the socket I6. The socket I6 is also providedwith nipples 2l and 25, which are adapted to receive conduit containingthe conductors (not shown) which constitute the connections through themeter between electric supply lines and the load to be metered.

Moulded insulating blocks 26 and 21 are secured to the bottom wall ofthe socket I6 for supporting and insulating the terminal clips I8,

I9, 20, and 2|. Screw terminals 28, 29, 39, and 3| are also mounted uponthe insulating blocks 26 and 21 to permit connecting the terminal clipsI8, I9, 20, and 2| to the conductors of the electrical circuit in whichthe electric meter is to be connected. The insulating blocks 26 and 2Ihave raised central portions 32 serving the dual purpose of insulatingbailies between adia cent line terminals and insulating supports forclips 33 holding the meter mechanism II when it is in its disconnectingposition.

The terminal clips I8, I9, 20, and, 2| are slotted to receive the prongsI4 to make the electrical connection through the windings of the metermechanism when it is in its metering position, illustrated in Fig. 3.The insulating bafiles 32, on the other hand, contain diagonal slots 34to receive two diagonally opposite prongs I4 when the meter mechanism IIis mounted against the socket I5 in an oblique position with itsnormally vertical axis turned forty-five degrees from the vertical asshown in Fig. 4. 'I'he clips 33, which are composed of resilient stripmaterial, such as brass, are set in the slots 34 as shown in Fig. 7.There is obviously the same angular and spacial relationship between theclips 33 as between the clips 2l) and I9. The ends 35 of the clips 33are bent and the baffles 32 are so shaped as to provide shoulderscooperating with the bent portions 35 in order to hold the clips 33longitudinally in the slots 34. Furthermore, each clip 33 has a zig-zagtongue 36 resiliently biased out of the plane of the clip 33 to servethe dual purpose of holding the clip 33 against one side of the slot 34and retaining a contact prong I4 in the slot 34. Each tongue 36 isformed by partially cutting out the central portion of the clip 33 andcrimping the tongue thus formed to include a blunted tip or angleportion 31. Each tip 31 is adapted to press resiliently against the sideof the corresponding slot 34 away `from the remainder of the clip 33 andto engage the hole I5 in a prong I4 of the meter mechanism, thuspreventing the meter mechanism from dropping out of the receptacle I6before a clamping ring is applied to the meter mechanism II and thereceptacle I8.

In order to avoid leaving the electrical circuit open when the metermechanism is removed, circuit-closing jumpers 38 may be provided, eachof which comprises a deectable spring contact 39 and a stationarycontact 40. When the socket I6 is to be used with conduit runningvertically, the jumpers 38 are arranged as shown with deflectablecontacts 39 supported by terminal clips |9"and 2|I and with stationarycontact 40 supported by terminal clips I8 and 2|. The circuit-closingjumpers 38 are formed by stamping or cutting strips from resilient sheetmaterial, such as spring brass, and bending to the shape shown. Offsetjaws/4| and 42 are produced to secure the jumpers to the terminal clipsin the receptacle I6. The jaws 4| of the contact member 38 are adaptedtograsp one side of aterminal clip, such as the clip 20, whenslippeddown on the clip. Likewise, the jaws 42 of the contact 40 areadapted to grasp an end of the terminal clip, such as the clip I8, whenslipped down on the clip. Preferably, the edges of the terminal clipsare bent outward to form lips 43 in order that the jaws 42 will holdsecurely to the ends of the terminal clips.

In order to prevent the jaws 4| and 42 from sliding off the terminalclips, tongues 44 and 45 (Fig. 3) may be cut in the jumpers 38 and bentinward slightly to engage the terminal clips frictionally. In the caseof the tongue 44, a flat outer surface of the terminal clip is engaged.whereas, in the case of the tongue 45, the edges of the material at theinner portion of the clip (illustrated in Fig. 1 at 46) are engaged. Thetongue 44 may be very slightly hooked at the end to slip yover the endsof the inner edges 46, thus virtually locking the jaws 42 in position. Alocking eiect may also be obtained in the case of the jaws 4| by havingthe middle parts 46 (Fig. 3) of the curved portion bent far enough totend to catch under the top curved edges 41 oi.' the terminal clips(Fig. 2).

The arrangement is such that, when the meter mechanism is removed, thecontacts 39 tend to spring up against the contacts 4U, thus maintainingthe continuity ofthe circuits between the terminal clips I8 and 20, andbetween the clips I9 and 2|, through the jumpers 38 instead of throughythe meter windings.

It will be understood that, if it is desired t0 arrange the receptacleI6 for horizontally running conduit instead of vertical, then thecircuitclosing jumper mounting will be changed accordingly with theterminal clips 20 and 2| connected and the clips I8 and I9 connected,instead of the .arrangement shown in the drawing.

Suitable means are provided for depressing the contacts 39 when themeter mechanism II is in place. For example, pins 48 of insulatingmaterial may be attached to the base plate I3 of the meter mechanism II.The pins 48 are so posi tioned that they strike the upturned ends 49 oithe contacts 39 when the meter mechanism is in place with the prongs I4tting into the terminal clips I8 to 2|. 'I'he `jumper contacts are thusopened, permitting the current to iiow through the meter windings.

The construction of the circuit-closing jumpers 38 of Figs. 1 to 3 maybe modied as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 by providing supporting portions 50and 5| which substantially surround the terminal clips and grasp themresiliently. Modied parts in Figs. 5 and 6 corresponding to parts inFigs. 1 to 3 are represented by the same reference numerals primed. Ifdesired, the supporting portion 5| may be riveted to the spring contactmember 39' instead of being integral therewith. Instead of mountinginsulating pins on the base plate I3 for depressing the spring contacts39 and 39', insulating pins may be mounted upon the spring blades 39 and39', themselves, as shown at 48 in Figs. 5 and 6. It will be apparentthat, when the meter mechanism is mounted on the receptacle I6, the baseplate I3 will strike the pins 48' and depress the spring contacts 39.

If it is desired to seal the meter mechanism II to the receptacle IB butto have the load conduc tors disconnected from the current supply lines,this is accomplished by mounting the meter mechanism in the diagonalposition of Fig. 4. Two of the prongs I4 are then grasped by the clipsv33 to hold the meter in place until a clamping ring is supplied. Themeter windings are obviously disconnected and the load-circuit-closingcontacts 39 and 48 are held open by reason of the base plate I3 bearingupon the pin 48'. In case no circuit-closing jumpers 38 or 38' are inuse, the mere diagonal mounting of the meter mechanism II will, ofcourse, also avoid flow of current between supply lines and load. Byusing the arrangement of Figs. 1 to 3, it is possible to seal the metermechanism to the receptacle I6 'with the meter windings disconnectedwithout interrupting electric service, since the pins 48 depress thecontacts 39 only when the meter mechanism Il is mounted vertically `withprongs I4 engaging terminal clips I8 to 2|.

I have herein shown and particularly described certain embodiments of myinvention and certain methods of operation embraced therein for thepurpose of explaining its principle and showing its application but itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications andvariations are possible and I aim, therefore to cover all suchmodications and variations as fall within the scope of myinvention'which is deiined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A circuit-closing jumper for an electrical device having a pluralityof terminals comprising in combination, a stationarycontact havingoffset means grasping one of said terminals, a yieldable strip havingoffset means grasping another of said terminals, extending toward saidstationary contact and resiliently engaging it, but being yieldable todisengage said stationary contact.

2. A circuit-closing jumper for an electrical device having a pluralityof split terminals formed from strip material, comprising incombination, a

stationary contact having oil'set jaws for grasp-` ing the side of oneof said terminals, a yieldable strip having offset jaws for grasping aside of another of said terminals, said strip extending toward saidstationary contact and resiliently engaging it, but being yieldable todisengagesaid stationary contact.

3. A detachable electrical instrument comprising in combination, aninstrument mechanism having a plurality of terminal contacts and areceptacle for receiving said instrument comprising in combination, abase, a plurality of terminal contacts mounted thereon adapted tocooperate with the contacts on said instrument mechanism when saidinstrument and receptacle are brought together in a predetermined normalangular relation, and a plurality of insulated clips mounted on saidbase adapted to hold contacts of said.

instrument mechanism when said instrument mechanism and receptacle arebrought together in ,an oblique angular relation with respect to normal,said terminal contacts and said clips being so positioned that all ofsaid contacts are out of engagement with corresponding contacts whensaid instrument mechanism is in the oblique angular relation.

4. A receptacle for a detachable electric device with two pairs oi'terminals arranged at the corners of a square. said receptaclecomprising in combination, a base, four terminal clips mounted thereonat the four corners of a square, and a pair oi.' insulated clips mountedon said base on. the circumference of a circle circumscribed on saidsquare at opposite ends of a diameter of said circle and adapted toreceive a pair of diagonally opposite terminals of the electric device.

5. A receptacle for a detachable electric device with a plurality ofterminals, said receptacle comprising incombination, a base, a pluralityof circuit connected terminal clips mounted thereon adapted -tocooperate with the terminal clips on lthe detachable electric device,and insulated terminal clips mounted on said base and angularlydisplaced from corresponding circuit connected terminal clips of saidreceptacle but having the Vsame angular and spaclal relationship to eachother as the corresponding' circuit connected ternii-nal clips oi saidreceptacle.'

6. A detachable electric instrument comprising in combination, aninstrument mechanism having a set of terminal contacts and a receptaclefor receiving said instrument mechanism comprising in combination, abase, aset of circuit connected terminal contacts mounted thereon tocooperate with the contacts of said instrument mechanism when saidmechanism and said receptacle, are brought together in a predeterminednormal angular relation, a circuit-closing jumper adapted to connect apair of said receptacle terminals when said mechanism and receptacle areseparated having means engageable by said instrument mechanism tointerrupt said connection when said mechanism and receptacle are broughttogether, and insulated terminal clips mounted on said base and adaptedto h'old contacts of said mechanism when said mechanism and saidreceptacle are brought together in an oblique angular relation withrespect to normal, said terminal contacts and said terminalv clips beingso positioned that all of said contacts are out of engagement withcorresponding contacts when said instrument mechanism is in the obliqueangular relation.

7. A circuit-closing jumper for an electrical device having a pluralityof split terminals formed from strip material, comprising incombination, a stationary contact having a resilient supportingportion-substantially surrounding one of said terminals, a yieldablestrip having a resilient supporting portion substantially surroundinganother oi' said terminals, said strip extending toward said stationarycontact and resiliently engaging it, but being yieldable to disengagesaidstationary contact.

8. A.detachable electrical instrument comprising in combination, aninstrument mechanism having two pairs of terminal contacts arranged atthe corners of a square, and a receptacle for receiving said instrumentcomprising in combination, a base, four terminal contacts mountedthereon at the four corners of a square adapted to cooperate with thecontacts on said instrument mechanism when said instrument andreceptacle are brought 'together in a predetermined normal angularrelation, and a pair 'of insulated clips mounted on said base. on thecircumference of a circle circumscribed on said square, said clips beingat the opposite ends of a diameter of said circle and adapted to receivea pair oi' diagonally opposite terminal contacts of the instrumentmechanism.

9. A detachable electrical instrument comprising in combination, aninstrument mechanism having two pairs of terminals arranged at thecorners of a square, and a receptacle for receiving said instrumentmechanism having four terminal contacts mounted thereon at the fourcorners oi' a square adapted to cooperate with the terminal contacts onsaid vinstrument mechanism, means adapted to connect electrically a pairof said terminal contacts, said means having a member engageable by theinstrument mechanism to break the connection when said instrument andreceptacle are brought together, said receptacle including a pair ofinsulated clips mounted on said base on the circumference oi a circlecircumscribed on the square defined by the positions oi' the terminalcontacts, said insulated clips being at the opposite ends oi' a diameterof s aid circle and being adapted to receive a pair of diagonallyopposite terminal contacts of the instrument mechanism.

